Day 10 - Crediton to Tiverton
Apart from the squeeky floorboards acting up during the night I had quite a good nights kip! The YH was quite quiet and I found myself sharing a dorm with a lady from Australia and another one from California - both kindly donated £5 to my fundraising. After a good hearty breakfast I trapsed up to the bus stop to catch the next one going to the bus station - from there I needed to catch the bus back to Crediton in order to ensure I didn't cheat and leave a bit of my journey out! All was going well until the driver started swearing quite profusely (would have cost him a fortune if I had my swear box from work with me!) as he couldn't find reverse...hmmm bit of a problem then...luckily one of his mates knew where it was! Safely dropped back in Crediton I set off down behind the sports centre and was soon jogging across several fields of young heifers - they're always the curious ones! then uphill pass Shobrooke Park. Today was going to be a bit on the hilly side (and loads more up than down!). The first few miles were undulating through some villages / hamlets until I hit Thorverton when the uphill really kicked in...I picked up the Exe Valley Way although not sure where the 'valley' bit came into play as the first few miles were up and over the top of the Raddon Hill range! Did a bit more wildlife spotting and found a lizard in the hedgerow - rabbits were everywhere and appeared to be doing their version of 'whats the time Mr Wolf' as everytime I turned round there was another one running across the road behind me! The views from the top were stunning - there were a couple of guys flying remote control planes in a punchbowl at the very top..but what goes up, must come down and it was good to be able to run again albeit sounding like a herd of elephants as I thumped down the lane on the otherside. At the bottom of the hill I came across Bickleigh Castle which, although not open to the public still gave a dramatic view from the outside. Stopped for a soup and drink at the Fishermans Cot which was right next to the river. There is a large old stone bridge which is said to have been the inspiration for Simon and Garfunkles 'Bridge over Troubled Water'. Picked up the Exe Valley Way again the other side of Bickleigh Mill which went through some lovely, if not a bit muddy, woodlands - the aroma of wild onion / garlic was almost overpowering but the white flowers gave a lovely show underneath the newly leafing trees. The very last bit of todays journey was through an unkempt farmyard where I did feel sorry for the cows stuck in a barn up to their knees in mud and muck. Then up through a series of fields where it was clearly obvious the farmer didn't want footpath walkers - had to go all the way around the perimeter fence of a steeply sided hill in order to get out onto the road at the top! Short jog along the road to tonights farmhouse stay : in the middle of nowhere but I had a HUGE room all to myself. Went down to the pub (again!) in a village 'a Devonshire mile' away! Nice meal and then to cap off a lovely day, saw two hot air balloons in the distance as I walked home - no need for a sweatshirt tonight...